Rare Roller: 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302
Introduced in late 1968, the Boss 302 was the Ford Mustang’s version of the Chevy Camaro Z/28. Both cars were redesigned to compete in the SCCA Trans-Am racing circuit which limited engine displacement to 305 cubic inches at the time. Key to the Boss 302 was a special V8 engine that produced 290 hp, similar to that of the Z/28. This 1970 edition is a roller, i.e., its important engine and 4-speed manual transmission are missing.
Ford was obliged to produce an “x” number of Boss 302s for John Q. Public. In 1969, this amounted to 1,628 copies, which ballooned to 7,013 units in 1970. SCCA changes occurred in 1971 that allowed a 351 V8 to occupy the engine compartment instead. There was also a Boss 429, but that car ran around in different competitive circles (NASCAR). Substantially different than the 302 V8 found in “regular” Mustangs, the make-up of the Boss 302 was much different.
The engine and transmission were not the only things special to the Boss 302. The handling package was beefed up, front disc brakes were added, and more bracing was provided under the hood. Visible to the Boss 302 were front and rear spoilers, a rear window shade, and a hood that was blacked out. These turned out to be formidable performers, capable of 0 to 60 mph in under seven seconds and the quarter mile in just over 14.5 seconds.
This ’70 Boss 302 sports Calypso Coral paint, but it’s a respray that has some body filler behind it along with some rust in the undercarriage. While the drivetrain and hood shaker are MIA, the posi-traction rear-end is still intact. Aftermarket Cragar wheels have replaced the Magnum 500s that came with the Mustang when new. Located in Tyler, Minnesota, this rare and restorable Mustang is available here on eBay where the auction has reached $15,105 with no reserve to be tackled.
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Comments
Sadly, it’s no longer a boss302, just a 70 mustang roller.
There are enough people that think differently that documented cars, even without the original engine/transmission will sell at a premium compared to the base make or model with a standard non-performance drivetrain.
Steve R
Correct Steve. Always good of you to correct the ill informed visitors.
I have a 70 Boss 302 engine that would be perfect for this one.
Wayne: will it run or does it need a rebuild?
It is apart at this time
Wayne: how much are you asking for the engine?
Are the front rotors and rear drums painted to match the body? The more photos i see the worse it gets. And i am surprised that it has that high bid now.
Those are drum brakes in the front!
This Boss 302 was featured on January 6th of this year when it was previously listed on eBay, also with a no reserve auction. The pictures from that write up are the same as those in the current eBay listing.
Steve R
Good obs, Steve R. Allegedly sold for $23k+, have to wonder why it’s relisted again with the same photos, etc.
That car is a hot mess. I’m pretty sure that 1970 Boss 302s had either a shaker hood or no hood scoop at all. If that was a shaker hood scoop car and there was no engine there’d be a hole where the shaker scoop had been since it was part of the engine intake. The hood scoop that’s on that car would not be original to a Boss.
You are right, the hood on this car has been replaced, it came from the factory with a shaker.
Steve R
Got another set of eyes & no dementia yet at 68 that knew immediately that this car was featured be4 on BF’s. Great catch Steve R. .. I was gonna mention it myself.
This car must have had a very interesting life… you have to wonder if it was set up at one point for drag racing as the disc brakes have been replaced with drum assemblies. Drums (adjusted properly) had less drag than discs. The Torino/Bronco 302 hood emblem on the wrong scoop is also an interesting touch. Again, if this car could talk…
Not likely. It might only make sense on a really well sorted race car that was running in a specific class where every fraction of a second gave you a competitive advantage, basically a heads up class. There is no indication anywhere on this car that it ever lead such a life. Before you switched from disc to drum you would have removed all sound deadened, power booster, outside mirrors, rear window louvers, rear wing, front spoiler, windshield wipers and heater, all of which are still present.
It’s more likely the car was sitting around half stripped and someone bolted on a set of brakes that were lying around to make it a roller, or this car started life as a regular fastback with drum brakes.
Steve R
The second clause of your last sentence is looking more and more likely.
I’m hardly a Mustang expert, but I don’t think you can just “bolt” a set of drums onto a disc brake car. I’m pretty sure the spindles used on drum brake Mustangs are different than the ones for disc brakes.
That is correct. Starting with the 1968 model year the spindles are different between drum and disc brakes. They do not interchange.
Sold $23,900, 75 bids.